Help, how do I stop crying when DGK emigrate next week.

I would advise not to go to the airport.

Say goodbye on home turf so they are composed and ready for the "exciting" journey.

I find the time at the airport is always so much briefer than you want and they suddenly have to leave you (in bits) to go through security. And then you know they are still "there" but in a strange way have already "gone". You want to see the plane leave but know they can't discern you... I obviously wonder why...

When i say goodbye here I always get nice messages from the airport and again just as they board.
In their thoughts but not in the way.



I put the flight tracker on my phone - no reason other than to feel connected a little longer - if it's daytime it's nice to imagine them touching down

So very hard. I feel for you. When ours left they didn't have children. The DGC was born out there. I'm trying to imagine how I'd feel if the DGC here decided to migrate too.
The ones who left said it might not be forever to soften the blow. That knowledge and alcohol helped

They have been back many times over the years and we have been out to NZ 3 times but not since he was a baby and he'll be 11 soon. Time to think about my next trip.

Hard though this may seem, we called our parents from Heathrow and said we were just about to board the 'plane for Africa. It did not give us or them time to start an emotional farewell. They did not particularly like it, but it worked well for all parties. Mind you, this was in 1975 so everything has changed since then..........

DS and DDiL went to US for five years and were then brought back to U.K. but they never really settled. In the three years they were back in U.K. they had DGS1 and then DS was offered a good job in US - he is an automotive design engineer and U.K. has very limited opportunities for this type of work - so he took the job and they have lived there now for 20 years. They had a second child and both have done well so far.
Of course I did not want them to go but supported their decision. They have made a good life for themselves and their two sons. They return every couple of years and we have lovely reunions. With Skype etc we have watched the boys grow and we have had a few lovely holidays - going to US for about 4/5 weeks but in that time going off to have our own road trip adventures - you meet lovely people in non-tourist places who are helpful and delighted to meet people from Europe - indeed one woman told us we were the first foreigners she had ever met and was very interested in talking to us.
Our last intended visit could not take place as I was having chemo and then we had the pandemic so non of us have travelled. However DS FaceTimes every Sunday and on days such as Christmas Day. We have in this way remained very much part of the boys lives and the saying goodbye when any of us visits is always hard but we find quick and snappy is the easiest!

You don't. You have a really good weep. The others will be doing the same - and then start saving for the air tickets to visit them.

It is worth remembering that you will have lots of contact with them - just not in the same physical space. And there are lots of ways you can stay in contact with the GC by starting little gifts/letters/postcards, or other contact routines that are just yours, so they can look forward to them. When they are big enough you can have an online games competition with them.

Have a good weep when they go but send them off with your blessings and lots of plans for the future..... for different contacts to those you have been used to.

Thank you all so much for your messages and helpful suggestions. I now wont bottle it all up, but go with the tearful flow, hope it's only a flow and not a monsoon. Definitely leave wine in the fridge for our return.
Maybe we will get to visit in the future.

Have a good blub and intersperse with a few laughs and giggles about having a blub - best of both and you will all feel easier. My heart though is with you on this ♡ ♡

Have you made a plan to visit them at all? I would definitely think of saving to have a holiday there.?? Australia??.
Then plan to Skype them regularly, think of things to send to them.
On the day have plenty of tissues and when you get home, have a stiff drink.
.

We’re I your family, I would think it very strange if you didn’t cry. A good blub helps to relieve the tension. Go ahead and cry and then look forward to seeing them when you next meet up.

I tried so hard not to cry when our DS went to Aus. 8 years ago Suieww but to no avail. I messaged him apologising for being so emotional and he told me there was nothing to apologise for; I'm his mum and he'd have thought it very odd if I hadn't dissolved into tears.

If you end up in tears, that will not be the last memory they have of you. Your DD and GC have a lifetime of wonderful memories, and your s.i.l. will have many memories from the time he first met you .

We were in the same position 12 years ago, very difficult. They broke down just before departure, so we were all tearful, but off they had to go!
Once they’d arrived safely, then sensible reason took over!
Although they settled into a lovely life, they missed home and came back. They always say they might go back once the children finish school.
Hold on to the fact you can have lovely holidays seeing them.